Grave cover



Feb. 21, 1939; D F PARKER GRAVE COVER Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 61 1 61 /3.9 eel flea/id Fpar'Ker 72,1 mil/Wm Feb. 21, 1939. D, F R 2,147,858

GRAVE C OVER Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFiiZE 15 Claims.

My invention relates to grave covers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a grave cover, adapted to carry floral decorations or the like, to properly exhibit the same, when the cover is in the raised or lowered position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave cover of the above mentioned character which is mounted over the grave opening, in a substantially horizontal position, and moved to a lowered position, while maintaining such substantially horizontal position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave cover of the above mentioned character, embodying a cover or rack, and guide means for the same, which guide means is mounted within the grave opening,

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character having means for causing the floral supporting element or rack to move down automatically with the casket as it is lowered into the grave opening.

A further object oi the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, the portions of which are adjustable for use in connection with grave openings of different sizes, and which are readily separable for convenient transportation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the iollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 1

Figure 1 is a perspective View of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use with the floral supporting element or rack raised,

Figure 2 is a central transverse vertical section through the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus, with the floral supporting element or rack lowered,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure l, parts in elevation,

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective View of the lower end of the post and. associated elements,

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the post guide means, and,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section through a modifled form of post.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral ll! designates a grave opening, within which is arranged a box or vault H or the like, to receive the casket. Arranged upon the ground above and surrounding the grave opening is a conventional casket lowering device l2, preferably elevated and supported in the elevated position by stands !3. The lowering device may be equipped with the usual drapes is. This lowering device comprises the usual rotatable shafts E5, to which are secured transverse straps or bands iii, supporting the casket or cofl'in ll. When the lowering device is set into action, the shafts i5 slowly rotate to pay out the straps l6 and the casket is lowered into the 1 grave opening, as is well known.

My grave cover comprises a supporting element or rack it, upon which is mounted floral decorations l9 or any other suitable decorations. The supporting element I8 is maintained permanently substantially horizontal, in use, and this permits of the floral decorations being properly visible and also eliminates the injury or destruction of the floral decorations when the supporting element is lowered. The supporting element or rack 18 is longitudinally and transversely adjustable, and for this reason the same embodies longitudinal units 23, which are transversely overlapped, Figure 2, one unit having transverse slots 2!, to receive bolts 22, secured to the other unit, and carrying winged nuts 23. Each longitudinal unit is longitudinally adjustable and for this purpose each unit 20 includes elongated sections 24, which overlap longitudinally, Figure 4, and one section 24 has longitudinal slots 25, to receive bolts 26, secured to the other section, and carrying winged nuts Z'l. If desired, the sections 24 may carry outwardly projecting prongs or anchor elements 28, to hold the floral decorations from slipping thereon. The supporting element or rack i8 is provided at its corners with openings 29, to receive therein the corner elements 12' of the lowering device, when the supporting element reaches the end of its downward travel, Figure 4, at which time it rests upon the lowering device. Of course, the lowering device may be used with or without the stands l3.

The longitudinal units 20 are provided near their corners with vertical sockets 36, arranged inwardly of the same and rigidly secured thereto by rivets or any other suitable means, as shown in Figure 5. These sockets are preferably rectangular in horizontal cross section to receive the upper ends of posts or bars 3|, which are also preferably rectangular in cross section. The

posts or bars may be readily removed from the sockets 30 and may be clamped therein by bolts 32, as more clearly shown in Figure 5. These vertical posts or bars are vertically movable within tubular guides 33, which are also rectangular in cross section. Each tubular guide is preferably longitudinally adjustable and embodies an upper tubular guide section 34 and a lower tubular guide section 35, which telescope, as shown. The tubular guide section 34 extends into the lower tubular guide section 35 and carries an adjustable clamping bolt 36 or the like operating through an elongated slot 37. It is thus seen that the tubular guide sections 34 and 35 may have relative longitudinal movement and be clamped together by manipulation of the bolt 36. The lower end of the lower tubular guide section 35 is preferably closed by a tapered end 38, as shown. Each lower tubular guide section 35 is preferably equipped with a bracket 33, attached thereto at any desired elevation by means of a bolt or rivet 40, and this bracket is adapted to engage over the upper edge of the box or vault II or the like, thus retaining each tubular guide at the desired elevation. The several tubular guides 33 are arranged within and connected with a rectangular frame 4 i, and are secured to this frame by bolts 42 or the like, carried by the upper tubular guide sections 34, and operating within elongated slots 43. The frame 4| is longitudinally adjustable and for this purpose its sides 44 are connected by bolts 45, operating within elongated slots 46, formed upon one or both of the adjacent sides. The frame 4| is transversely adjustable and for this reason the ends 4'! overlap and are connected by bolts 48, operating in slots 49, which may be formed in one or both of the ends 41. The frame 4| is arranged within the grave opening in substantial contact with the walls of the same and thereby steadies or holds the several tubular guides against improper movement, near their upper ends, while their lower ends are held against improper movement by the pointed ends 38 engaging in the earth for a slight distance, and also by the brackets 39 raising upon the box or vault H and also by the lower tubular guide sections 35 passing between the box or vault and the wall of the opening Ill, and engaging therewith.

The floral supporting element or rack I8 is arranged directly over the casket and grave opening, and its four posts or bars slidably enter the tubular guides 33, and move longitudinally within the upper tubular guide sections 34. The post or bar 3| is substantially thinner than the bore of the upper tubular guide section 34, providing a space or passage 50, for receiving a strap or band 5|. The lower end of this band, Figure 6, is preferably doubled upon itself and provided with openings 52, to receive upturned hooks 53, carried by a reduced extension 54 of the post or bar 3|. The outer side of the tubular guide section 34 is preferably cut away at its top, to receive a guide roller 55, carried by a pin 56, attached to the tubular guide section 34, as shown. This roller coacts with the strap or band 5 I.

The several straps 5| are wound upon and attached to the rotatable shafts or rollers l5 in any suitable manner and may be attached thereto in the usual manner of attaching the straps l6 to these rotatable shafts. When the shafts |5 turn to pay out the straps l6, they also pay out the straps 5|.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The supporting element or rack I8 is to be arranged horizontally over the grave opening, as shown in Figure 1, and above and spaced from the casket H, which may be slid into place over the straps l6, by means of the usual rollers (not shown) carried by the rotatable shafts l5. The supporting element or rack I8 has the floral decorations |9 suitably mounted and secured thereon and is therefore visible at the grave. When the lowering device is actuated to lower the casket ll, the shafts l5 rotate to pay out the straps l6, and also pay out the straps 5|. Therefore as the casket descends into the grave opening, the floral supporting element or rack l8 descends automatically with it until it rests upon the lowering device. An important advantage in my construction is that the supporting element or rack l8 remains horizontal throughout its lowering movement, eliminating any swinging movements of the same which might disturb or injure the flowers, and also eliminating any manual handling of the supporting element or rack during the committal service or the like. When the floral supporting element or rack I8 is supported upon the lowering device, and carrying the flowers, the same produces a very beautiful effect, which may be increased by arranging flowers about the sides of the lowering device, which flowers may have been placed in position before the committal services. When it is desired to fill the grave opening, the floral supporting element or rack is may be raised by pulling up upon the straps 5| or upon the posts 3| or both. After the supporting element or rack is elevated sufficiently, the clamping bolts 32 may be loosened, and the supporting element or rack l8 separated from the posts 3| These posts may now be removed from within the tubular guides 33, subsequently to which the tubular guides 33 are removed from the grave opening and separated from the frame 4|. It is thus apparent that the various parts of the apparatus are separable for convenient handling and transportation.

While I prefer to lower the floral supporting element or rack automatically with the lowering of the casket, due to the paying out action of the straps 5| by the rotatable shafts I5, yet the invention is not necessarily restricted to this operation, as other means may be employed to lower the posts. The posts and supporting element move downwardlyby gravity and their movement,

is regulated by paying out the straps, but other means may be employed, for effecting or regulating the lowering movement of the supporting element or rack l8. It is preferred to employ four posts 3| arranged near the corners of the floral supporting element or rack l8, but the invention is not necessarily restricted to this arrangement nor to the number of the posts. The tubular guide 33 and post 3| may be formed substantially circular in cross-section, as shown in Figure 8.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element to extend over the grave opening, guide means having rectilinear reciprocatory movement to cause the floral supporting element to move downwardly toward the grave opening and means connected with the movable element of a casket lowering device for controlling the downward movement of the guide means.

2. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element to be arranged above the grave opening and extending over the same, a tubular guide device arranged within the grave opening, an upstanding post carrying the floral supporting element and mounted within the tubular guide device to partake of rectilinear reciprocatory movements therein, and paying out means connected with the post for controlling its downward movement.

3. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element to be arranged above the grave opening, an upstanding post connected with the floral supporting element, a guide element engaging the upstanding post to guide it in its downward movement, a casket lowering device arranged adjacent to the grave opening, and means associated with the casket lowering device to cause the floral supporting element to be lowered when a casket moves downwardly.

4. A grave cover comprising, in combination with a casket lowering device including rotatable shafts, a floral supporting element to be arranged above the casket, upstanding posts secured to the supporting element near its corners, tubular guide devices receiving the posts to guide them in their downward movement, and straps secured to the posts and connected with the rotatable shafts so that the floral supporting element is automatically lowered with the lowering of the casket.

5. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element, posts arranged near the corners of the supporting element, means for detachably securing the posts to the supporting element, tubular guides to receive the posts and. to be arranged within the grave opening, and straps connected with the posts to control their downward movement.

6. In supporting means for a cover of a grave opening having a box or vault therein, posts connected with the cover near its corners, tubular guides to receive the posts and to be arranged Within the grave opening, brackets secured to the tubular guides and engaging over the top of the box or vault within the grave opening.

7. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element, posts connected with the same near its corners, tubular guides to be arranged within the grave opening and receiving the posts, there being a space between each post and its tubular guide, a strappassing through the space and attached to the post, and means to control the paying out action of the strap.

8. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element, a post secured thereto, a tubular guide to be arranged within the grave opening, said tubular guide being longitudinally extensible, a strap attached to the post, and means to control the paying out action of the strap.

9. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element, posts secured thereto, tubular guides to be arranged within the grave opening to receive the posts and having their lower ends pointed to enter the earth, a frame arranged near the upper portion of the tubular guides, and means to attach the frame to the tubular guides.

10. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element, a post attached thereto, a tubular guide to receive the post and forming therewith a passage at one of its sides, a roller mounted upon the tubular guide near the passage, a strap extending through the passage and attached to the post, the roller engaging the strap and means to control the paying out action of the strap.

11. The combination with a casket lowering device embodying a rotatable element, of a supporting element for flowers or the like to be arranged over the grave opening, means to reciprocate in a rectilinear path and connected with the supporting element for lowering the same and holding the supporting element against swinging movement in a vertical plane during its lowering movement, and means connected with the first named means and with the rotary element of the casket lowering device to be actuated by the rotary element.

12. The combination with a casket lowering device comprising a rotatable element, of a supporting element to be arranged over the grave opening, a post supporting the element and adapted to partake of rectilinear reciprocatory movement, and a flexible element connecting the post and rotatable element of the casket lowering device, the flexible element serving to retain the post elevated so that the supporting element is spaced a substantial distance from the top of the casket, the flexible element also permitting of the downward movement of the post when the rotary element is turned to lower the casket.

13. A grave cover comprising a floral supporting element to be arranged over and above the grave opening, an upstanding post secured to the supporting element, a guide engaging the post, and means to control the downward movement of the post and connected with a movable part of a casket lowering device, the means lowering the post when a casket is lowered.

14. A grave cover comprising a generally horizontal floral supporting element to be arranged above the grave opening, an upstanding. post connected with the floral supporting element for movement into the grave opening, a tubular guide. to receive the major portion of the length of the post and to hold the same against turning upon its longitudinal axis, the tubular guide being arranged within the grave opening, and means for controlling the downward movement of the post within the tubular guide.

A grave cover comprising a supporting element for flowers or the like to be arranged at an elevation above the grave opening, a casket lowering device arranged at the grave opening and including a movable part, and means to cause the supporting element to move downwardly into proximity to the grave opening in a straight path, said means including a part connected with the movable part of the casket lowering device.

DAVID FREDERICK PARKER. 

